On completion of this module students should be able to:
1. appraise the literature on the formulation and implementation of social policies.
2. employ this literature in the analysis of Irish social policy formulation and implementation.
3. comprehend the key methodologies used to evaluate social policies
4. apply these research methodologies to the design of social policy evaluations.
5. critique the use of policy evaluation in Irish social policy making.
6. Critically analyse key texts and research on social policy making, implementation and evaluation.
7. work effectively as a group

The opening lecture will introduce the module and to the policy cycle

This will be followed by a series or lectures organised around three core themes of the module

Policy Making:
- introduction to theories of policy-making and the factors which influence policy design.
- Power Resources: Pluralism and Elitism
- Institutionalism
- Rational Choice, Thory and Game Theory
- Networks
- Ideas and Knowledge Transfer

Policy Implementation
- introduction to policy implementation theory
- Top down theories of policy implementation
- Bottom up theories of policy implementation
- Incrementalism and Mixed-Scanning

Policy Evaluation
- Introduction and Ethics
- Evaluation Designs
- Impact evaluation
- Conducting and writing up evaluations.

None

None

No prior learning requirements. To get an idea about some of the topics covered in the policy cycle watch the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLUbviQoef8

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

Students will receive individual feedback on their projects and also from their classmates in their online critical reading groups.